2025 FAI Cup

Mickey Duffy might genuinely be the best player in the league, and its fustrating to see him wasted at Derry in recent years.

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Originally Posted by Nesta99

Pats fans havent quite bought in to the roamnce of the cup even after breaking the cup hoodoo it seems. Rovers fans have forgotten a bit of the bread and butter stuff too with the 1700 hardcore supporters. Sunny day, opposition, Oasis, people paying for European trips Im sure will all be rolled out as reasons but 1700 is disappointing, proportionately it'd be like Dundalk getting 6 or 700.

I dont get why a team that wins on an artificial surface have fans that then say something like they'll never be any good until a pitch is dug up, surely it downplays a good away win, especially away at the champions elect! Derry have played on grass, albeit on a hill, for the vast majority of almost 30 years without a title. Their galacticos really showed up in the national stadium, probably the best pitch in Irish football last November, they play on other pitches away from home. Surely familiarity with even a bad pitch is an advantage over visiting teams that may play on excellent grass surfaces more often and should struggle with an unfamiliar surface? Unless the inference is that Drogheda's rudimentary tactics trump Derrys more gifted players because they dont try to play, its gnarly long ball that doesnt need a pitch of any type to get a win?

Derry's issues are not with the pitch, its character, lack of belief, not caring enough or something deeper than the pitch. There seems to be no connect with the fans which always makes me consider that lack of effort through a team, bar some individuals, is a possible issue and suport dries up maybe with attendance also. Being very well resourced comes with its own issues.

Yes the drums are annoying, especially in a small enclosed stand like in Oriel, though the moaning about the drums nearly drowns the damn things out and is just as annoying - its a footbball macth, if you want some peace and quiet there's a church just down the road!

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Our crowds have been dissapointing all season and i really think it has fallen off because we had so few Friday matches laast year that people just got out of the habit of going.
There is also the issue of European matches becoming so routine and numerous (and not covered by ST) that people are picking and choosing waht matches to go to (and pay)
I was one of the people at the match last night but even going i was asking myself why i was bothering as i knew it would be a half strength team and we would win anyway.

All that being said throw in the usual excuses , lovely day, OAsis etc etc it was still dissapointing and fair play to Longford who looked like they had a couple of hundred at it it was still dissapointing.

That being said i had a good aul natter with some of the core while keeping half an eye on the match, the "crowd" only got inviolved with maybe 10 mins to go just as i was thinking we were a deflected shot or a goalkeeping mistake away from going out of the cup..
When the ref gave the peno i was shouting for a corner and i didnt see a single Rovers player appealing but in fairness to the ref a pal watching on LOITV texted me to say it was a nailed on peno so a good spot by the REf tbf (i havent seen it yet) . No one had a clue what was happening around me anyway , i thought he had booked Noonan for diving before we figured out it was a Pen

Really poor attendance but I have to hold my hands up that I bought 3 tickets for me, my son and his buddy but they decided they'd rather have a BBQ at home and I wssn't bothered either.

Unfortunately even half price tickets couldn't entice people to a nothing game.

With so many FD teams in the last 8 I think every club is going to be hoping they can get a soft draw and reach the semi finals.

Galway have got a joke of a draw so far so let's hope that trend continues.

On cup final attendance watch as a neutral, Pats v Rovers would be the biggest possible fixture remaining. You'd imagine Cork would still get a big crowd for a cup final, Sligo would probably travel well too. I've no idea how many Galway would be able to bring. But I couldn't see it being much over 10k unfortunately.

If are to get Shamrock Rovers or Drogheda I’d really hope for a home draw. After them two home or away we would be favourites. There would be still some tricky ties but if we avoid them two I’d be happy enough.

Speaking as the non cup specialists over the last 40 years this draw looks as open as i can remember

2 First Division teams, Finn Harps and Kerry
8th 9th and 10th in the Premier Division Galway, Sligo . Cork
Pats, Drogs and ourselves.

At home to Kerryford looks good for me after home draws so far against Wexford and Longford

Shamrock Rovers going to Longford would have been a big game for Longford for obvious reasons. Same goes for the draw tomorrow. Bigger occasions for First Division clubs if they are drawn at home against a Premier opponent. Haven't played St. Pat's, Shamrock Rovers or Sligo yet.

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Originally Posted by legendz

Shamrock Rovers going to Longford would have been a big game for Longford for obvious reasons. Same goes for the draw tomorrow. Bigger occasions for First Division clubs if they are drawn at home against a Premier opponent. Haven't played St. Pat's, Shamrock Rovers or Sligo yet.

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First division clubs will just be hoping for a home draw against anyone. Couple of years ago when Galway were in the FD they got Dundalk and then Bohs at home in the QF and SF. Both ties sold out and were the biggest game in EDP for a long time. It was really important to have those games at home, they will have been the first games a lot of young fans will have went to before becoming regulars since we've been in the PD.

I'll take any tie that isn't a trip to Dublin at this stage.

Question may have been answered already,but when is the draw.
I'll take Home to Kerry please.

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Originally Posted by placid casual

Question may have been answered already,but when is the draw.
I'll take Home to Kerry please.

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Tuesday at 12:30pm on the FAI YouTube channel.
Anyone at home for me please since we're choosing.

Would be hoping it’s Pats v Shamrock Rvrs , then I’d take anyone else home or away.

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Originally Posted by sbgawa

Our crowds have been dissapointing all season and i really think it has fallen off because we had so few Friday matches laast year that people just got out of the habit of going.

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An interesting point you make and probably an ongoing problem for you lot. Throw in 8 home European games (I included Molde) last season and you also get people picking and choosing what games to attend. Not always easy to get to 2 games a week if one is midweek and the other on a Sunday/Monday.